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I know some of you are card-carrying felinophiles, and I'm trying to decide what to do for my cat.

Jack is about 12, and the last of the six cats we have had over the last 18 years or so. We had five when we got him, and they have all gone to Valhalla except him. He even lost Jed, his old doggy friend, last month. I can't tell if he's lonesome now or enjoying his only-child status. He now seems to be much more demonstrative with the two humans he keeps in the house with him, but he was always cuddling up with the other cats, especially Margaret, who adopted him when he came to us as a kitten and who died a few months ago.

We don't have a deep yearning to get another cat, but two are no more trouble than one, so I'm thinking about getting another as a same-species friend for Jack. Any opinions about if it should be a kitten, or closer to Jack in age, or if he should just continue on the way he is? It would be a rescue cat, altered of course, and I wonder if it would matter if it was male or female...or do we just have to give it a try and see what happens? Any thoughts?

A different scenerio, but we adopted two less-than-a-year-old female sisters after our beloved Rufus died. Then one of them got run over or ran away (which I doubt) or something. The other one was lonely.

We adopted a baby (7 weeks old), brought it home and kept them apart for a couple of days. Big cat was not happy at first. However, once the pecking order was established they are thick as thieves. Best friends.

I say go for it. The Humane Society has good advice on how to introduce a second cat to the house.

I remember reading your touching tributes to Oliver and Margaret, Ron. Anyway, since Jack was so close with Margaret, perhaps another female. I'm sure when you talk with the rescue folks, they could let you know which cats they have that are sociable with other cats. A kitten might be too rambunctious for Jack, or it might be just the thing to perk him up. Agencies here have told me they have a harder time finding homes for older cats, so you might consider an older female, maybe half Jack's age.

About seven years ago, I lost two of my cats, both males. My remaining cat, Samantha, was so grief-stricken that she howled and howled and searched the house for her brothers. Like your Jack, she became even more attached to me. She seemed so unhappy that after about four or five months, I couldn't stand to think of her mourning anymore. So, I went and got her two new brothers, both rescue kittens from the same litter. (Their mother had been killed by a car.) Samantha was thrilled, and the boys thought of her as their mama. I think they added a few years onto her life. They were a happy threesome, and that's one reason my user ID is Tresgatos.

It's a proven fact that cats are evil. They steal the breath from babies, consort with hags, and well.......that darn Top Cat was always in trouble. Having presented you with these facts your choices are obvious.

Ron, a female cat seems in order. I know that there are dozens of them at the shelter here. Have recently thought about getting another dog. Only concern is that I would try to compare it to my beloved Sarah, which wouldn't be fair. I'm sure that your kitty would appreciate the company. Don't think Sarah was ever the same after her buddy Chaney died. Best wishes for you and kitty.

Sometimes older cats don't do so well with kittens. Kittens are so spunky! When we brought my new kitten in the home my 2 older cats went downhill fast. Both have since died (Screech we had put to sleep - he was 13, and Sissy died about 2 weeks later from a stroke - she was 16). I do not believe either one of them appreciated having to contend with a spry, trouble-making kitten whose single goal in life is to play, play, play. Our old Airedale seems to tolerate the kitten much better than the other cats did.

My advice? Try it out, but don't get too attached to the new pet, just in case you have to pass him or her to somebody else if the pairing doesn't work out.

My mom was in pet rescue for many years. She is always for same-species company for animals. She even got a donkey to keep her horse company after the other horses were gone. The horse loved that donkey, and donkeys (in case this ever comes up) are great protectors and guards.

Not suggesting you get your cat a donkey, no no.

I like the half her age older cat idea. Do need homes, house broken, don't run up your curtains, kittens also have razor sharp claws older cats don't appreciate. As mentioned, there is a good way to introduce them. Usually put new cat into one room for at least one day. This way new cat is safe, while your cat gets used to the new presence. You will see if your cat pounds on the door to go rip up its face, or seems friendly and curious. This way also your cat does not feel intruder came into her space. Just like we do not want someone moving in putting their stuff over the house on day 1.

(Sorry for all kitty and dog losses mentioned. Do keep cats INSIDE if at all possible, for about 153 reasons. Including people do actually come around and pick up pets outdoors, and sell them to science labs. Serious. Truly. Getting to be a weird world.)

I think we killed our old cat when we got a kitten to be his "friend." The kitten hounded him endlessly, wouldn't let him sleep, wanted to always play so "attacked" him unmercifully so that the old cat finally began to hide in the basement. He had been in pretty good health but died several months after we got the kitten. (Now that kitten is old, and so are we. No more kittens, thank you.)

If your cat is used to other cats having another shouldn't be a problem for him however if you get an older cat it might be difficult for him /her to adapt, especially if you don't know their history so I'd go for a kitten, at least then the kitten is learning from Jack. Could be a whole lot of fun....... look forward to seeing the pics of the new arrival!

My vote goes with the young rescue adult, probably female since your cat got on so well with the previous girl. And, of course, separating them at first and then letting them interract under supervision at first to see how it goes.

Every cat is different - in my experience, kittens generally just walk out of the carrier and behave as if they've always lived there; older cats take a little longer. One 10-month-old girl took two months before she stopped retreating into my bedroom (the other cats aren't allowed in there normally), several kittens at different times have never been separated at all ... mostly, I must admit, because my stud boy Jinks (my avatar) absolutely adores kittens and therefore the rest go along with what 'top cat' says!